Grieve expected to join lineup in Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Devil Rays are getting a key bat back in their lineup.

After being out nearly a month with a left thumb infection, outfielder/designated hitter Ben Grieve turned up Tuesday in the Rays clubhouse and is expected to be activated in the next day or two.

Grieve, out since April 23, has been hitting the past few days at the Rays' extended spring training camp, and manager Lou Piniella said after Tuesday's game that Grieve will be available tonight.

What started as a simple bruised thumb turned into a nasty infection, and that landed Grieve in the hospital last month. He has had problems with the thumb since a surgery to remove a cyst several years ago.

"This, though, seemed a little more serious," Grieve said. "It scares you a little bit."

Grieve received antibiotics for the infection, and it slowly healed to where he could start swinging a bat again. He plans on using a jelly-type pad in his batting glove, perhaps for the rest of his career, to absorb the shock and decrease the odds of another bruise and infection.

"I'm sure it probably will (happen again) sooner or later," Grieve said. "They don't know what causes it, so chances are it will happen again. I guess I just have to take better care of it."

Piniella pointed out that Grieve offers another heavy bat in the lineup. Aubrey Huff leads the Rays with 12 homers. Next are Toby Hall and Travis Lee with three.

"So, obviously, we could use some longball help," Piniella said. "And there's no question (Grieve) is very capable of getting hot and driving in some big runs for us."

Piniella said Grieve will DH when he returns, and then Piniella hopes to rotate the DH spot so Al Martin and others can continue seeing playing time.

ON THE OUTS: With Grieve returning, the Rays will have to make a roster move. And that could mean parting with a veteran.

Piniella likes the way Jason Tyner has been hitting, and it doesn't seem likely Tyner will be sent down.

The Rays could release Damion Easley or Terry Shumpert, but Piniella said before Tuesday's game that he likes the veteran mix on his team. Plus, the Rays might want Shumpert around for insurance at shortstop since losing Felix Escalona to Baltimore over the weekend.

The other possibility is shipping third baseman Jared Sandberg back to the minors.

BABY TALK: No player likes to miss time because of injury, but Grieve's injury, all things considered, could not have come at a more opportune time.

It gave Grieve the chance to spend some quality time with his son, Bode, who was born May 9.

The injury, though, did not get Grieve out of diaper duty.

"If my thumb was good enough to swing a bat," Grieve said, "then it must have been good enough to change diapers."

RAIN CHECK: Piniella was supposed to go to lunch with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells on Monday, but the two had to postpone.

"I think he was a little busy," Piniella said.

Actually, Parcells was very busy. Monday was the first day of Cowboys minicamp and the first day Parcells had a chance to meet the Dallas veterans.

ON A ROLLS: Piniella said he expects outfielder Damian Rolls, out since April 23 with a fractured right thumb, to be activated when the team returns home from the road trip Monday.

TV GAME: Saturday's Rays-Angels game will be shown as a part of Fox's regional telecast. The game will be shown in the Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Seattle markets.